DA: Man strikes woman with hammer in attempted homicide

A 40-year-old Racine man faces a felony charge of attempted first-degree intentional homicide with the use of a dangerous weapon after his arrest July 8.

The felony filed Friday in Racine County Circuit Court against Shemaiah A. Mitchell carries a maximum prison sentence of 60 years in prison.

Mitchell, who is being held in jail on a $100,000 bond, made his initial appearance Friday.

The defendant is also charged with a felony count of physical abuse of a child, a felony count of first-degree recklessly endangering safety and a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct. The two felonies carry a total fine of $35,000 and 18 years, six months in prison, while the misdemeanor carries a fine of $1,000 and 90 days in county jail.

According to the criminal complaint:

Police responded to 1646 State St. in reference to a call that a woman had been hit on the head with a hammer and was unconscious on the floor. Police observed a woman stumbling out the front door with a large cut to her forehead above her left eye, which was swollen shut.

The caller stated he observed his father strike the woman once in the head, which caused her to fall to the floor. When the caller rushed to help, the defendant attacked him, but he was able to avoid being struck in the head and instead was hit in the left shoulder.

Police later spoke to the victim, who stated that Mitchell had been drinking earlier in the day. When they came home, Michell came out with a large knife and the woman heard one of her tires “pop.” She said he then came at her with a hammer, and she didn’t remember anything else until she regained consciousness.

The woman also stated when she returned home, she smelled a strong odor of gas. An investigation determined that someone had turned it on and left, which created a substantial risk of an explosion and an extremely unsafe condition for the home and entire neighborhood.

Based on the evidence found at the home, police concluded it appeared that Mitchell had returned home after all others had left, changed clothes, turned the gas on without lighting it and left. Police later spoke to Mitchell, who gave a similar account as the woman. He also
stated he did something “stupid,” “knew he (expletive) up,” and “I need help.”

Mitchell is scheduled to return for a preliminary hearing July 18 at 9 a.m.

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